The Kyoto Protocol requires the industrialised countries that signed-up from around the world to cap their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5% by 2008-12.
In October 2006 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) released information showing that total greenhouse gas emissions across 41 industrialised countries actually increased by 2.4% between 2000 and 2004.
Given all the focus of attention on reducing emissions, why have we not seen a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in global terms?
The United States
The US is the second biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. Under the Protocol the US initially agreed to cap its emissions by 6% but later pulled out of this commitment saying this would damage the US economy. This means that the US did not ratify, or officially confirm, that it would cap its emissions.
US emissions grew by 15.4% between 1990 and 2004. Every year Texas emits more carbon dioxide than the whole of France.
'We simply must do everything we can in our power to slow down global warming before it is too late. The science is clear. The global warming debate is over.'
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor for the State of California
Across America many states have independently passed new laws to tackle climate change. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a co-operative effort by nine states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Japan
Japan is a world economic power and one of the leading members of Kyoto.
Japan committed to reduce its emissions by 6% but figures show its greenhouse gas emissions have actually risen to 11% above 1990 levels.
China
China has overtaken the US to become the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter.
Under Kyoto, China does not need to reduce its emissions at present because when the Treaty was agreed it was classed as a developing country.
Although the average person in China currently uses only 10-15% of the energy of the average US citizen, its economy has been developing quickly and emissions are rising.
China recognises this problem and ratified Kyoto in 2002. It has yet to agree to binding targets but has announced plans to generate 10% of its power from renewable sources by 2010. In June 2007, China unveiled a national plan on climate change.
India
India is not currently required to cap its emissions under Kyoto but its emissions are estimated to have risen by more than half in the 1990s. India knows that its people are likely to suffer the effects of climate change. Many of them live in low-lying areas like the Bay of Bengal. It ratified Kyoto in 2002.
The European Union
All the countries in the EU have ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
The European Environment Agency reported in June 2007 that the EU had achieved a 7.9% reduction in emissions compared to 1990 levels.
Germany and the UK contributed most to this figure. In the UK emissions from a basket of six greenhouse gases fell by 15.3% between 1990 and 2005.
Emissions from Spain, Austria, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal actually increased.